Direct, externally imposed control of polypeptides
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsJoseph M. Jacobson, John J. Schwartz, Kimberly Hamad, Shuguang Zhang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and compositions for rendering proteins directly responsive to an external signal utilizing modulators that themselves respond to the external signal and are associated with the proteins. In response to the external signal, the modulator alters physical properties of the specific protein molecule(s) with which it is associated, thereby altering the structural and functional properties thereof. The modulator may, for example, transfer applied energy to a protein, or to a portion of the protein, thereby changing the protein structure and function.
Claims14
A method for remotely altering the structure of a protein, the method comprising the steps of:
- covalently or non-covalently linking a nanoparticle with a protein, wherein said nanoparticle is selected from the group consisting of metal nanoparticles and semiconducting nanoparticles;
- and
- exposing the nanoparticle to an external field, wherein the external field is selected from the group consisting of a magnetic field, an electric field, and an electromagnetic field, the external field causing the nanoparticle to alter the structure of the protein.
A method for remotely altering the structure of a protein, the method comprising the steps of:
- covalently or non-covalently linking a nanoparticle with a protein, wherein said nanoparticle is selected from the group consisting of non-colloidal gold, colloidal gold, silicon, ruthenium, cadmium selenide, gold maleamide, and N-hydroxysuccinimidyl gold;
- and
- exposing the nanoparticle to an external field, wherein the external field is selected from the group consisting of a magnetic field, an electric field, and an electromagnetic field, the external field causing the nanoparticle to alter the structure of the protein.
A method for remotely altering the structure of a protein, the method comprising the steps of:
- covalently or non-covalently linking a nanoparticle with a protein;
- and
- exposing the nanoparticle to an external field, wherein the external field is selected from the group consisting of a magnetic field, an electric field and an electromagnetic field, and wherein said nanoparticle cools said protein upon exposure to said external field, the external field causing the nanoparticle to alter the structure of the protein.
A method for regulating transcription, the method comprising the steps of providing a modified transcription repressor covalently or non-covalently linked to a nanoparticle that is responsive to an external field, wherein the modified transcription repressor binds to a gene to inhibit transcription;
- and exposing the modified transcription repressor to an external field, wherein the external field is selected from the group consisting of a magnetic field, an electric field, and an electromagnetic field, the external field causing the nanoparticle to alter the structure of the modified transcription repressor and alter the binding of the modified transcription repressor to the gene.
A method for remotely altering the structure of a protein, the method comprising the steps of:
- covalently or non-covalently linking a nanoparticle with a protein;
- and
- exposing the nanoparticle to an external field, wherein said protein is an ion channel, and
- wherein ion flow through said ion channel is controlled by the step of exposing said nanoparticle to an external field and, wherein the external field is selected from the group consisting of a magnetic field, an electric field, and an electromagnetic field, the external field causing the nanoparticle to alter the structure of the protein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.